John Mellencamp announces massive 'Plain Spoken' 2015 tour

Singer-songwriter and Rock and Roll Hall of Famer John Mellencamp will release a new album on September 23 titled Plain Spoken. He and his superstar cohorts are also bringing Farm Aid to Raleigh this Saturday, September 13.

In support of his new album, Mellencamp will launch a massive tour next year that will bring him back to the Durham Performing Arts Center on Tuesday, March 31. Carlene Carter will open. Tickets will go on sale at 10 a.m. on Friday, September 19, via the venue box office and Ticketmaster for $45 to $125. Various pre-sales will be active anywhere from Tuesday, September 16 to Thursday, September 18. Each ticket purchased online or by phone will include a download of the new album.

Farm Aid is coming to Raleigh in September

After John Mellencamp spilled the beans late last year that he and his Farm Aid cohorts (Willie Nelson, Neil Young and Dave Matthews) were looking at Durham to possibly host the annual benefit concert in 2014, it's been a long wait for confirmation that it was going to happen, but it's finally here.

The massive concert will come to Walnut Creek Amphitheater in Raleigh on Saturday, September 13. In addition to Mellencamp, Nelson, Young and Matthews, who will be joined by Tim Reynolds, other performers will include Jack White, Preservation Hall Jazz Band, Jamey Johnson, Delta Rae, Carlene Carter, Pegi Young & The Survivors, Lukas Nelson & Promise of the Real and Insects vs Robots.

Tickets will go on sale at 10 a.m. on Friday, August 1, via Live Nation for $49 to $175. A pre-sale will begin at noon on Friday, July 25, via Farm Aid but it requires purchasing a $50 "presale pass."